High Notes

INTERVIEW | Composer Cris Derksen Talks About Nîpîy’s Songwalks, A Concert With Amadeus Choir

INTERVIEW | Composer Cris Derksen Talks About Nîpîy’s Songwalks, A Concert With Amadeus Choir

Cree cellist and composer Cris Derksen (BMus ’07) will premiere their work, A Prayer for Water/Mass for Nîpîy, about Indigenous water sovereignty at the season finale concert of the Amadeus Choir. Kathleen Allan (BMus ’11) is the Artistic Director and Conductor of Amadeus. LudwigVan/Photo by Tanja-Tiziana

Photo of Erika Switzer and Jeffery Ryan in Barnett Hall

UBC Music alumni Erika Switzer and Tyler Duncan release “A Left Coast”

Composers include Jeffery Ryan, UBC Music emeriti, Stephen Chatman, Jean Coulthard and more.

Vancouver’s Chor Leoni sings of mental health and wellness in The Turning

Vancouver’s Chor Leoni sings of mental health and wellness in The Turning

Innu First Nation member and UBC Music Student Alex Vollant talks to Stir Magazine about the positive impact of singing with Chor Leoni.
“Music can change us, change communities, and change society.”

UBC Symphony Orchestra visits Germany in first ever European tour

UBC Symphony Orchestra visits Germany in first ever European tour

The UBC Symphony Orchestra and University of Stuttgart Academic Orchestra reunite in Germany

Armand Birk selected as Conducting Fellow at Tanglewood Music Centre

Armand Birk selected as Conducting Fellow at Tanglewood Music Centre

Armand will also have an opportunity to conduct the Boston Symphony Orchestra as part of this fellowship.

UBC Alum Monica Chen appointed as Assistant Conductor of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra

UBC Alum Monica Chen appointed as Assistant Conductor of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra

Monica Chen studied Orchestral Conducting with Professor Jonathan Girard.

UBC DMA student Caroline Olsen newest member of Kamloops Symphony Orchestra.

UBC DMA student Caroline Olsen newest member of Kamloops Symphony Orchestra.

Caroline Olsen is currently studying viola with Assistant Professor Marina Thibeault.

PhD Candidate, Oscar Smith receives Killam Graduate Teaching Assistant Award.

PhD Candidate, Oscar Smith receives Killam Graduate Teaching Assistant Award.

The UBC Killam Teaching and Service awards recognize faculty members and graduate students for their outstanding teaching, research and service to the community.

Lauren Visel appointed as Director of Symphony Band and Lecturer at Carleton College

Lauren Visel appointed as Director of Symphony Band and Lecturer at Carleton College

Lauren graduated from our Masters of Music in Conducting program in 2019. She studied with Professor Robert Taylor.

UBC Assistant Professor Marina Thibeault’s album Viola Borealis, wins Juno Award for Classical Album of the Year

UBC Assistant Professor Marina Thibeault’s album Viola Borealis, wins Juno Award for Classical Album of the Year

Thibeault, with Orchestre de l’Agora led by Nicolas Ellis, performs music by Latvian composer Pēteris Vasks, Anishinaabe composer Melody McKiver, the very first viola concerto—composed around 1716 by Telemann.